Naresh Chouhan's questions to Novartis AG (NVS) leadership • Q4 2024
Question
Naresh Chouhan inquired about the commercial potential for OAV101 (intrathecal Zolgensma), asking about the expected bolus opportunity, the speed of the sales ramp-up, and whether achieving blockbuster status by 2027 is a reasonable expectation.
Answer
CEO Vasant Narasimhan suggested the ramp-up could be fast, similar to the original Zolgensma launch, potentially reaching a steady state in 2-3 years. He believes the onetime treatment offers a compelling profile versus competitors, especially since it was tested against the 'gold standard' Hammersmith score. He reiterated the company's view that the medicine could exceed $3 billion in peak sales.